Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 44 replies
  • Subscribers 27 subscribers
  • Views 2681 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Are RCD's Required?

Nano Brewery
Hi, looking to understand if an RCD would be a required regulation (and/or just highly recommended) in the following situation.  The additional cost of installing four or five 3-Phase RCDs is quite substantial and I would prefer to avoid it if still deemed as safe and not legally required.  Earthing system is TN-C-S.


For connecting up 4x Immersion Elements (9kW, 9kW, 6kW, 3kW) in Brewery Tanks I am looking at either:


A.  SWA Cable clipped direct to basket from the Control Panel to IP rated Plugs/Sockets mounted on the wall.  Then floating SY Cable (recommended by electrician) from the wall to the Tanks, which is about a 2m run.  Thinking Plugs/Sockets just to make life easy if I ever want to move things around and also for easier access for cleaning.


B.  Same as above but swapping the Plugs/Sockets for Isolators.


Look forward to your feedback and opinions.  Cheers.
Parents
  • 0
    davezawadi (David Stone):

    I do not expect you to be heating things if no operator is present, so a single RCD covering everything would be perfectly satisfactory. I suggest the plugs and sockets are a good idea in any food area, as cleaning is much easier if things are all on castors. That and a 3ph board are not too expensive and save the isolator cost completely, you simply unplug items to isolate. You may find 3 circuits, of 16A each perfectly satisfactory for the moment, with 16A BS4343 sockets (red) but leave space in the board for expansion later! IP67 ones are probably unnecessary unless you live in a permanent spray of water, which I doubt! Turn off the RCD before using a pressure washer.


    Cheers David.  It does sound like the general consensus is to use an RCD.  Wondering if I'm worrying too much about things developing faults?  Maybe I should go with a single RCD feed from the 3-Phase Board to the Control Panel.  At present the Control Panel has 6 individual circuits, with Rail Mounted Cartridge Fuses and Contactors installed on each.  I do also need to be able to switch the individual elements (9kW, 9kW, 6kW, 3kW) on/off to control or ramp up temperatures.


Reply
  • 0
    davezawadi (David Stone):

    I do not expect you to be heating things if no operator is present, so a single RCD covering everything would be perfectly satisfactory. I suggest the plugs and sockets are a good idea in any food area, as cleaning is much easier if things are all on castors. That and a 3ph board are not too expensive and save the isolator cost completely, you simply unplug items to isolate. You may find 3 circuits, of 16A each perfectly satisfactory for the moment, with 16A BS4343 sockets (red) but leave space in the board for expansion later! IP67 ones are probably unnecessary unless you live in a permanent spray of water, which I doubt! Turn off the RCD before using a pressure washer.


    Cheers David.  It does sound like the general consensus is to use an RCD.  Wondering if I'm worrying too much about things developing faults?  Maybe I should go with a single RCD feed from the 3-Phase Board to the Control Panel.  At present the Control Panel has 6 individual circuits, with Rail Mounted Cartridge Fuses and Contactors installed on each.  I do also need to be able to switch the individual elements (9kW, 9kW, 6kW, 3kW) on/off to control or ramp up temperatures.


Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines